Depression is a condition of feeling sad and despondent. Feeling blue is
a warning sign to others that you are in distress and need their
support. Depression is becoming the number one challenging medical
problem faced today by the modern, scientific and computer-savvy world.
This is spreading from hut to palace, rich to poor, layman to hermit,
saint to sinner and weak to healthy. The clinically depressed need
medical intervention. Depression is an evolutionary device, the body’s
way of telling us to stop wasting energy fighting against things that
can do us harm. Be that a bad boss or bleak winter. "It can be a
deterrent the same way pain or fever is a defence,” said Dr. Benoit
Mulsant, the Physician-in-chief at Toronto’s Center for Addiction and
Mental Health. Even the emotional process of mourning, which research
has shown causes very real pain for the surviving spouse, ensures there
is a quiet, recovery time. It also draws people to the person in
distress, which increases their ability to go on and may be even, in
time, connect with a new love. In a way, depression may be the body’s
innate way of ensuring survival of the gene pool. "Turn to
me God and be gracious to me, for I’m lonely and afflicted”
(Psalm 25:16).

The depressed need immediate connection with loved ones, this may be
family members, spiritual friends - anyone who has the concern and love.
When his friend Lazarus had died leaving the sisters, Martha and Maria
in loneliness, Jesus heard about it, went to their house with his
disciples, cried with them and gave life back to Lazarus and cleared the
loneliness in the house. “Jesus says, ”Come to me, all of
you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give rest” (Mathew 11;28). Prayer, meditation, Bible reading,
contemplation and the support and constant touch of loved ones will lead
you to come out from the dangers of depression.

Mulsant says, “If you are in conflict with your boss and you keep
fighting, at some point you are going to get fired and lose your job. If
you lose your job, you will lose your income…. maybe you will starve.
But if you submit and stop fighting, your boss may be fired in a year
and you’ll be okay. Or, the tears of frustration and pain of biting your
tongue will be the ultimate red flag that it’s time to move on.”

“God places the lonely in families” (Psalm
68:6). “I’m with you always, even to the end of age”
(Mathew 28 :20). Community life is the life we should live, and not live
a life of loneliness. Do whatever we can do to sustain the togetherness
of life, do it now, right now itself before the sun sets.

Prayer : Jesus, let us feel your presence and the company of saints and
angels around us. Give us your spirit to encourage us when we are lonely
and sad. We pray for all the depressed in homes, at work, and in
hospitals. Let us perceive those who are in need of our help. Don’t
leave anybody in loneliness and sadness. All we ask in the name of
Jesus. Amen.